Anne
Sofie von Otter George
Frideric HANDEL (1685–1759) Where
shall I fly (Hercules) (1745) [5.24];
Piangero (Giulio Cesare)
(1724) [6.23];
Where’er you walk (Semele)
(1744) [4.03] Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567–1643) O Rosetta,
che rosetta (Scherzi Musicali) (1607)
[1.48]; La violetta (Scherzi
Musicali) (1607) [3.47];
Lamento (Arianna) (1608)
[3.47] Johan
Helmich ROMAN (1694–1758) O
Herre Gud Guds Lamb (Agnus Dei) (Then
Svenska Messan) (1752) [3.28] Georg
Philipp TELEMANN (1681–1767)
Trauer-Music eines kunsterfahrenen Canarienvogels
(1737) [15.07] 
Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo) Drottningholm
Baroque Ensemble rec. 28 February 28–2 March
1983, St. Gertrud Church, Stockholm. DDD
PROPRIUS PRCD 9008C [47.00][RH]
Essential
listening for those who have followed von
Otter’s career. If you’ve got her later recordings
then you’ll definitely want this her first
disc ... see Full
Review
Pas
de Trois
Bernard van BEURDEN
(b.1933) Pas de trois [10:18]
Jindrich FELD (b.1925) Trio Giocoso [12:00]
David FROOM (b.1951) Arirang Variations (2004) [10:57]
Perry GOLDSTEIN (b.1952) Noir (1999) [14:11]
Don FREUND (b.1947) Louder than Words [17:24]
Kenneth Tse (saxophones) Benjamin Coelho (bassoon) Alan Huckleberry
(piano) rec. University of Iowa, Clapp Recital Hall, May 2005
CRYSTAL RECORDS CD358 [65:00] [JW]
A
versatile trio playing enjoyable material
by living composers ... see Full
Review
The Rise
of the North Italian Violin Concerto: 1690-1740.
Volume One: The
Dawn of the Virtuoso Francesco
NAVARA (fl.1695-1699) Sinfonia/Sonata
à 5 in C [5:37] COMPOSER
X (fl.ca.1695) Laudate pueri
Dominum: à voce sola et 5 strumenti,
RV Anh.30 [19:21] ¶ Giovanni
Legrenzi (1626-1690) 3 Balletti
e Correnti à 5, from Op.16 (1691) Balletto
II in G [0:42] Corrente II in G [1:23] Ballatto
IV in E [1:52] Corrente IV in E [1:06] Balletto
VI in F [1:57] Corrente VI in F [0:34] Francesco
NAVARA (fl.1695-1699) Sinfonia/Sonata
à 5 in A (1697) [5:43] Tomaso
ALBINONI (1671-1751) Concerto IV
in G, Op. 2/8 (1700) [5:24] Giuseppe
VALENTINI (c.1680-c.1760) Concerto
XI à 6, con quattro violini obligati,
Op.7 (1710) [17:32] * Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concerto III,
con violino solo obligato in G, Op.3, RV310
(1711) [6:46] Concerto X, con quattro violini
e violoncello obligato, Op.3, RV 580 (1711)
[9:00]
La Serenissima: Adrian Chandler (violin,
director); Sarah Moffatt, Simon Kodurand,
Jane Gordon, George Crawford, Emilia Benjamin
(violin); Peter Collyer (alto viola); Alfonso
Leal, Katherine McGillivray (tenor viola);
Gareth Deats (violoncello); Peter McCarthy
(double bass); Eligio Quinteiro (theorbo,
baroque guitar); Robert Howarth (harpsichord,
organ); ¶ Mhairi Lawson (soprano)
rec. Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Salehurst,
East Sussex, February 27-March 1 2006; * Phoenix
Sound, Pinewood Studios, June 25, 2006
AVIE AV 2106 [77:51] [GPu]
An
exciting mix of familiar and unfamiliar. Essential
listening for all with an interest in Venetian
baroque. Prepare to be instructed and moved.
And delighted … see Full
Review
Hermann
Scherchen - de Purcell à Varèse Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony No.
5 D485 (1816) [26:52] Symphony No. 6 D589
(1822) [31:28] Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) The Fairy Queen
(extracts) (1692) [11:13] Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1759-1795) Symphony No. 29 K201
(1774) [23:02] Edgar
VARÈSE (1883-1965) Déserts
(1954) [27:32] Vienna
Symphony Orchestra, recorded 1950 (Schubert Symphony 5) Vienna State
Opera Orchestra,
recorded 1951 (Schubert Symphony 6) RTF Radio
Symphony Orchestra, live recording 1954 (Purcell
and Mozart) Orchestre National de France,
world premiere 2 December 1954 at the Théâtre
des Champs-Elysées de Paris (Varèse)
TAHRA 599-600 [59:02 + 62:17][JW]
Scherchen
the exploratory analyst as much as the Viennese
inheritor. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Elisabeth
Schumann – Aria Recordings 1926–1938 Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) 1. Exsultate jubilate, K 165: Alleluia [2:24];
2. Il re pastore: L’amerò, sarò costante [4:24]; Le nozze
di Figaro: 3. Non so più [3:27]; 4. Venite, inginocchiatevi [3:13];
5. Voi che sapete [3:43]; 6. Deh vieni, non tardar [3:49];
Don Giovanni: 7. Batti, batti, o bel Masetto [3:45]; 8. Vedrai
carino [3:24] Johann STRAUSS
II (1825–1899) Die Fledermaus: 9. Mein Herr Marquis [3:24];
10. Spiel’ ich die Unschuld vom Lande [3:24] Carl
ZELLER (1842–1898) Der Vogelhändler: 11. Wie mein
Ahn’l zwanzig Jahr [3:23]; 12. Wie mein Ahn’l zwanzig Jahr ’Nightingale
Song’ [3:30]; Der Obersteiger: 13. Sei nicht bös’ [3:28] Carl
Michael ZIEHRER (1843–1922) Der Landstreicher: 14. Sei
gepriesen du lauschige Nacht [3:11]; Der Fremdenführer: 15. O
Wien, mein liebes Wien [3:12] Heinrich
BERTÉ (1858–1924) Das Dreimädelhaus: 16. Was macht
glücklich [3:29] Richard
HEUBERGER (1850–1914) Der Opernball: 17. Im chambre
separée [2:45] Fritz KREISLER (1875–1962) Sissy:
18. Ich glaub’ das Glück [3:40] Josef
STRAUSS (1827–1870) 19. Spährenklänge [3:38] Ralph
BENATZKY (1884–1957) 20. Ich muss wieder einmal in
Grinzing sein [3:24] Rudolf
SIECZYNSKI (1879–1952) 21. Wien, du Stadt meiner
Träume [3:25] Elisabeth
Schumann (soprano) Orchestra/Georg Byng (1, 2, 5, 7, 8); Lawrance
Collingwood (3, 4, 6, 12, 13, 18); Carl Alwin (9); Vienna State
Opera Orchestra/Carl Alwin (10, 11); Orchestra/Walter Goehr (14-17,
20, 21); Leo Rosenek rec. 19 May 1926 (1, 5, 7); 7 June 1926 (2,
8); 1 February, 1927 (3, 4); 4 February, 1927 (6); 11 November
1927 (9); 6 September 1929 (10, 11); 17 February 1930 (12, 13);
23 June 1934 (19); 20 November 1935 (18); 25 November 1936 (16,
21); 11 March 1937 (14, 15); 8 June 1938 (20); 11 June 1938 (17).
ADD NAXOS 8.111100 [72:12]
[GF]
Grading
the singing greats for loveliness and charm Elisabeth Schumann
inevitably occupies the top position. This disc shows her at her
most lovely. ... see Full Review
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Recitals
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
1. Ave Maria [4.50]; 2. Die Forelle [2.22]; 3. Auf dem Wasser zu singen
[3.29]; 4. Ungeduld [2.58]; 5. Der Musensohn [2.18]; 6. Was bedeutet
die Bewegung [5.19] Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) 7. Feldeinsamkeit [3.45]; 8.
Therese [1.57]; 9. Der Tod das ist die kuhle Nacht [3.13]; 10. Wiegenlied
[1.53]; 11. Von ewiger Liebe [4.45]; 12. Wie Melodien zieht es mir [2.40];
13. In stiller Nacht [3.11]; 14. Da unten in Tale [2.12]; 15. Meine
Liebe is grun [1.43]; 16. Liebestreu [2.23]; 17. Vergebliches Standchen
[1.52] Jean Philippe RAMEAU (1683-1764)
18. Dein Gesang, Nachtigall [6.29] Richard
LEVERIDGE (1670-1758) 19. Sprach der alte Schafer [2.20]
Michael ARNE (1740-1786) 20. Die Maid mit dem lieblichen
Sinn [2.40] Giovanni Battista SAMMARTINI (1698-1775) 21. Weisse Schafchen
[2.50] Cristoph Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787)
22. Einem Bach der fliesst [2.22] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) 23. Wohl tauscht ihr
Vogelein [1.47]; 24. Die Verschweigung [3.01] Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) 25. Das Geheimnis [1.52]
Franz SCHUBERT 26. An den Fruhling [2.08] Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) 27. Volksliedchen [1.14]
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) piano: Giorgio Favoretto (1-6), Edwin
Fischer (7-17) Michael Raucheisen (18-27) rec. Rome, 16 February 1952
(1-6), Rome, 21 February 1954 (7-17), Berlin, 7 October 1944 (18-27)
ADD mono ARCHIPEL DESERT
ISLAND COLLECTION ARPCD0295 [77.45]
Elisabeth
Schwarzkopf sings Lieder Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) 1. An Chloe [2.16] 2. Die
Alte [4.27] 3. Sehnsucht nach dem Fruhlinge [1.58] 4. Abendempfindung
[5.15] 5. Die Zauberer [2.02] Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) 6. Wonne der Wehmut [2.43] Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) 7. Der Musensohn [2.00] 8. Seligkeit
[2.21] 9. Die Forelle [2.08] 10. Litanei [5.25] 11. Ungeduld [2.50]
12. Gretchen am Spinnrade [3.22] Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) 13. Der Nussbaum [3.04] 14. Auftrage
[2.17] Trad arr Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
15. Da unten im Tale [2.19] 16. Och Mod’t ich well en Ding han! [1.41]
17. Vergebliches Standchen [1.38] Richard
STRAUSS (1864-1949) 18. Her gesagt bleibt’s nicht dabei [1.56]
19. Schlechtes Wetter [2.11] Hugo WOLF
(1860-1903) 20. Wiegenlied (im Sommer) [3.12]; 21. Mausfallen-Spruchlein
[1.06] 22. Schlafendes Jesuskind [3.25] 23. Epiphanias [4.29] 24. Was
soll der Zorn mein Schatz [2.01] 25. Herr was tragt der Boden hier [2.54]
26. Wie glanzt der helle Mond [3.43] 27. Lebewohl [2.19]
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) piano: Walter Gieseking (1-3, rec 1954)
Gerald Moore (4-6, 10, 11, 13-21, rec 1954) Edwin Fischer (7, 12, rec
1953) Karl Hudez (8, 9, rec 1946) Wilhelm Furtwangler (22-27, rec 1953)
REGIS RRC1268 [75.15]
[RMO]
Schwarzkopf
in her early days – truly an eye opener …
see Full
Review
Sounds
of Venice
John
CAGE (1912-1992)
Sounds of Venice (1959) version 1 [3:49]
Stefan LIENENKAMPER
(b.1963) Mind the Gap… (2004) [9:19]
Alexander RASKATOV
(b.1953) Stykhyra (2002) [10:58] Violeta
DINESCU (b.1953) Ismaïl si Trunavitu
(2003) [8:05] Bernd
FRANKE (b.1959) Half-way house
- SOLO XFACH (für Joseph Beuys) (2003) [19:47]
Eckart BEINKE
(b.1956) 68 - part one (2000) [11:24]
John CAGE
Sounds of Venice (1959) version 2 [3:49]
Duo Conradi-Gehlen: Stefan Conradi & Bernd
Gehlen. Rec. March 21-24, 2005 at Sendesaal
Radio Bremen
ANTES EDITION BMCD31.9224 [68:55] [DC]
Some
tracks will ‘grab’ you more than others, but
there is always something for the receptive
mind to absorb and digest. ... see Full
Review
Strange
Imaginary Animals Jennifer
HIGDON (b.1962)
Zaka (2003) [12:50] Gordon
FITZELL (b.1968) violence (2001)
[9:46] Steven
MACKEY Indigenous Instruments
(1989) [17:34] David
M. GORDON Friction Systems (2002;
rev. 2005) [14:37] Gordon
FITZELL evanescence (2006)
[11:18] Dennis
DESANTIS (b.1973) strange imaginary
remix (2006) [5:33]
eighth blackbird (Matt Albert (violin
and viola); Molly Alicia Barth (flutes); Matthew
Duvall (percussion); Lisa Kaplan (piano);
Michael J. Maccaferri (clarinets); Nicholas
Photinos (cello)) rec. Ball State University,
15-18 August 2005. DDD
CEDILLE CDR 90000 094 [72:00] [DC]
I
give it the modern-music ‘feel-good’ factor
award ... see Full
Review
Trumpet
Concertos
Alexandra PAKHMUTOVA (b.1929)
Concerto for Trumpet in B-flat (1955) [13:07]
Eric
EWAZEN (b.1954) Concerto for Trumpet
and Strings (1990) [18:00] Anthony
PLOG (b.1947) Concerto No.2 for
Trumpet and Orchestra (1995) [27:59]
John Holt (trumpet) Slovak Radio Symphony
Orchestra/Kirk Trevor rec. 24-28 November
2005, concert studio no.1 of Slovak Radio.
DDD
CRYSTAL RECORDS CD765 [59:29] [DC]
Some
surprising and high class music and music-making.
... see Full
Review
Twenty Great Pianists Artur
Rubinstein (1887-1982) DE FALLA Ritual
Fire Dance [3:22] Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1870-1941) PADEREWSKI Minuet [3:44] Leopold Godowsky (1870-1938)
SCHUBERT Marche Militaire No.1 [4:09] Sergei
Rachmaninov ((1873-1943) RACHMANINOV
Prelude in C Sharp Minor [3:36] Alfred Cortot
(1877-1962) CHOPIN Waltz No.7
[2:54] Egon Petri (1881-1962)
SCHUBERT arr.LISZT Erlkönig [4:33] Myra
Hess (1890-1965) BACH Jesu, Joy
of Man’s Desiring [3:11] Guiomar Novaes (1895-1979)
CHOPIN Nocturne No.20 [3:20]
Walter Gieseking (1895-1956)
DEBUSSY Clair de Lune [4:48] Wilhelm
Kempff (1895-1991) SCHUMANN Arabesque
[5:56] Simon Barere (1896-1951)
LISZT Liebestraum No.3 [4:08] Robert
Casadesus (1899-1972) FAURÉ Impromptu
No.5 [1:58] Claudio Arrau (1903-1991)
LISZT Theme & Variations [4 :12] Rudolf
Serkin (1903-1991) BEETHOVEN Piano
Sonata No.8 “ Pathétique” (2nd. Movement Adagio cantabile)
[5:30] Vladimir Horowitz (1904-1989) HOROWITZ
Variations on a theme from Bizet’s “Carmen” [3:36] Moura
Lympany (1915-2005) RACHMANINOV
Prelude No.6 [2:14] Shura Cherkassky (1911-1995)
PROKOFIEV Suggestion Diabolique
[2:30] Emil Gilels (1916-1985)
RACHMANINOV Daisies [2:20] Alicia de
Larrocha (b.1923) GRANADOS Andaluza
(Playera) [4 :15] Sviatoslav Richter (1915-1997)
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No.1
(Finale) [4:06] rec. Original Mono recordings
1919-1954. ADD
LIVING ERA CLASSICS AJC 8563 [77:15][SA]
All
in all these are remarkable aural documents and a must have for all
piano music lovers. ... see Full Review
Viennafest
Johann STRAUSS Sr (1804-1849) Radetsky
March [3.13] Johann STRAUSS Jr (1825-1899) Overture to The Gypsy Baron
[7.27]; Jager Polka (Hunstman Polka) [2.50]; Frühlingsstimmen
Walzer (Voices of Spring Waltzes – Tracy Dahl, soprano [5.41]; Nachtigall
Polka (Nightingale Polka) [3.26]; Studenten Polka (Students’
Polka) [2.53] Franz LEHÁR (1870-1948) Gold and Silver Waltzes [6.34]
Johann STRAUSS Jr
Im Sturmschritt Polka Schnell (At the double, fast polka)
[2.52] Eduard STRAUSS (1835-1916) Mit Dampf Polka Schnell (At
full steam, fast polka) [2.11] Franz LEHÁR Ballsirenen Walzer (Siren of the dances
waltzes) from The Merry Widow [6.38] Emmerich KALMAN (1882-1953) Overture to Countess Maritza
[4.13] Josef LANNER (1801-1843) Hofball-Tanze Walzer (Court
Ball Waltzes [5.36] Oscar STRAUS (1870-1954) Walzertraume (Waltz Dreams)
[6.45] Robert STOLZ (1880-1975)
Zwei Herzen in Dreiviertelakt (Two hearts in three-quarter time)
[2.42] Johann STRAUSS Jr
Overture to Die Fledermaus [8.20] Rudolf
SIECZYNSKI (1877-1952) Wien, Wien nur du allein (Vienna,
City of my dreams) [4.33]
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/Erich Kunzel rec. Cincinnati, Ohio, February
2000. DDD TELARC CD80547
[77.24] [RMO]
Kunzel
conducts with his usual panache – this album’s
worth a twirl or two… see Full
Review
Hyunah Yu
- arias by Bach and Mozart
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685 – 1750) Cantata
BWV 32: Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen [6:36]¹
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756 – 1791) Zaide,
K 344/336b: Ruhe sanft, mein holdes Leben
[6:30]; Tiger! Wetze nur die Klauen
[4:52]; Trostlos schluchzet Philomele
[7:15] Johann
Sebastian BACH Wedding Cantata
BWV 202, excerpts: Weichet nur, betrübte
Schatten [7:50]¹ ; Drum sucht auch
Amor sein Vergnügen [0:45]; Wenn die
Frühlingslüfte streichen [2:56]² ; Und
dieses ist das Glücke [0:54]; Sich
üben im Lieben [4:50]¹ Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART Die Zauberflöte,
K 620: Ach, ich fühl’s, es ist verschwunden
[4:06] Don Giovanni, K 527: Vedrai, carino
[3:25] Johann
Sebastian BACH St Matthew Passion,
BWV 244: Er hat uns allen wohlgetan
[1:11]; 13. Aus Liebe will mein Heiland
sterben [5:11]³ Cantata BWV 151: Süsser
Trost, mein Jesus kommt [11:54]³
Hyunah Yu (soprano) Vladislav Borovka (oboe
solo)¹; Jan Fišer (violin solo); Jirí Sevčik
(flute solo)³ Prague Philharmonia/Shuntaro
Sato rec. 16–19 June 2006, CNSOP Hostivař
Studios, Prague and 29 June, 2006 at Menuhin
Hall, Stoke d’Abernon
EMI CLASSICS DEBUT 0946 3 68255 2 6 [68:22]
[GF]
A
new well equipped lyrical soprano making her
recording debut in a way that promises great
things in the future ... see Full
Review
BOOK
REVIEWS
CageTalk Dialogues
with & about John Cage
Edited
by Peter Dickinson University of Rochester
Press ISBN 1-58046-237-5 RRP £20 hardback
265pp. [DC]
If
you are anything like me you will find yourself
being educated and cheered up at the same
time. ... see Full
Review
GRIEG: Music,
Landscape and Norwegian identity Daniel M
Grimley 2006
240 pp THE BOYDELL PRESS ISBN 1 84383 210
0 (hardcover) £50 [AOz]
We
need books like this, particularly in an increasingly
non-analytical society, to keep us focused
on why music matters. ... see Full
Review
Detailed
listing (last
five days)]
[Part 1 New]
[Part
2 A-B] [Part 3
C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]
[Part 5 S-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L]
[Part 7 Misc M-Z]
[Recommended
recordings]
